Best Instant Camera Reviews 2018

If you remember when instant cameras were your only choice and you could scrapbook your days away without a care in the world, you might be interested in purchasing another one and reliving your childhood days! Maybe you’re too young to remember those times and just want to get involved! The pictures taken on instant cameras look really cool, there’s a space underneath to write a little message, AND they print out straight away so you don’t need to bother going all the way into town just to print some pictures! Whatever your reason, you’re on the market for an instant camera, and that’s where we come in. We’ve done some research and come up with some of the best brands for instant cameras, to give you a good selection to choose from.

Overview

PROS

CONS

SPECS

Type

Film

Photo

Size

Color(s)

Our Top Choice

Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 Instant Camera

Fujifilm is a powerhouse in photography and imaging products. It has re-imagined the instant camera and come up with a blend of the old and new.

How Do I Choose the Best Instant Camera?

Instant cameras having been gaining in popularity, especially with the way they have been revolutionizing their technology. LCD screens were once only for digital cameras and DSLR’s now they are popping up on the beloved instant cams! Which brings them to the spotlight and may be why you’re thinking (like the rest of us) in investing in an instant camera.

Instant cameras give you the chance to get your prints right there and then. In today’s world, we want things as quick as possible. We see next day delivery popping up everywhere and sneaky google searches to find the answers for a pub quiz. We want things now, so why should it be different when it comes to your photos prints?

Whatever your situation, an instant camera means you can print your photos on the move; just tuck it in your trusty camera bag on your next adventure and away you go. Although, we recommend a waterproof camera if your next adventure includes taking a splash. So, if you’re sick of waiting around for your photos to develop, take a look at this buying guide to help you narrow down the most important things to look for when buying an instant camera.

Price

It’s worth noting that prices will vary depending on the specification of the camera. Are you looking for the full range with the latest tech and all the add-ons? Or, bringing it back to the basics with you and your camera vs the world. These elements are going to affect the price of the camera, with some cameras providing multiple lenses, LCD screens and auto adjustment functions that can raise the price. These are really good for those who see themselves as a bit more of an avid photographer. But, for those of you who just want a simple instant camera that can snap those special moments in your life, without the extra bells and whistles, you won’t need to pay an arm and a leg to get the functionalities you need.

In general, we came across instant cameras that range from as low as $70 up to around $250 for a camera with a lot of professional features. Ultimately, the “best” instant camera for you will be one that is a good middle ground between price and the features you desire.

Features

Speaking of features, cameras can come with a variety of options, varying from multiple lenses, automatic exposure adjustments and some more fancy new tech. Some of this tech may be of use whilst others may not take your fancy, but that’s okay. If you’re looking for a point and click you may not need multiple extras. So, it’s worth considering “what features am I looking for?”

Here’s a few things to look out for before you make a decision:

Style – Digital LCD Screen, popular viewfinder, compact mini and wide-angle options are available for you. Whichever your style, there is one to suit all types of photography, whether you want to take a selfie or have that extra wide angle to make sure you get all your buddies and family in.

Quality of print - Quality can range with the different specifications involved. A point and click can provide great quality photos but if you’re comfortable with lenses, then the ability to interchange lenses and exposure levels can take great photos to the next level!

Print paper – Can range from the latest zero ink paper to the recognized Instax original prints and wide prints

Flash – If you ever find yourself in a situation where you’ve forgotten to put the flash on you may want to look for something a little more automatic. If you want to retain control, you can with an on/off flash switch

The last thing it comes down to is, shall I get the purple one? The blue one maybe? Or a chic black one? Some may have limitations and some may have one that suits your personality. The creativity of color is awesome, but don’t forget that functionality is what is going to take your experience further and make it personal to you.

Construction and Design

The construction and design of instant cameras has changed overtime. These cameras now come in a range of shapes and sizes. With some still rocking the bulkier, recognizable, classic design that fits round your hand like a comfortable glove, to those with a slimmer, modern and edgy design. Weight can vary from 2 pounds to 4+ pounds so it’s worth considering where you will be taking this camera and if you’re looking for something a bit more light and discrete, or ready to scream loud and proud.

It’s worth noting that just because it’s more of a classic model doesn’t mean you miss out on the new technology, many enhancements have been made to bring them up the pecking order with their competitors. These cameras are designed to catch moments even quicker and clearer than before through a faster shutter speed, perfectly timed flash, filters and exposure levels. All the while ensuring that your picture is processed and printed faster than ever before.

Sizes of the prints can vary from each camera. You may be looking for something you can fit in your wallet, or something a bit larger. Photos can range from 2 x 3 inches, up to 2.44 x 3.99 inches, which is perfect for scrapbooking and saving for a trip down memory lane.

Performance and Ease of Use

It really can’t get easier than a point and click when it comes to cameras. Most people have experienced how a camera works as they’ve been around for decades! Find some old baby pictures of you and you will see the concept of taking a picture hasn’t changed much. In this day and age, you can even find kids knowing their way around cameras! The difference now is the performance of cameras has adapted and increased. It’s like when you first watch Jaws you think it’s the scariest film you’ve ever seen and then 20 years later you notice all the mechanics and wonder how you were ever scared?!

The same applies to instant cameras. Over the years there have been adjustments made to these instant cameras that has improved their efficiency, battery life and speed and quality of prints, allowing for higher quality cameras to make their way into your hands. Features that would have appeared to be only for the professional photographer, like adding filters, can be done with a press of a button. This makes it as simple as possible for you to allow you to release your inner photographer. And, don’t worry about running out of ink, some don’t even use it! And if your one does it’s easily accessible through many stores and online retailers. Did someone say next day delivery?

What is the Best Instant Camera?

When choosing your instant camera, you need to consider some things. How “realistic” do you want it to be? You can get some instant cameras with all the bells and whistles of modern technology, but you might prefer a more genuine camera. How many settings/features/dials can you handle? If you’re a newbie to the instant camera world, you might want to start off with a basic model, but if you’re a regular photography expert, you could consider getting a more technical one. Then, of course, you need to consider your budget. Set a reasonable budget range for the number of features you want, and you should be able to find something that fits without too many compromises. Without further ado, take a look at these five awesome instant cameras.

Our Top Choice

The Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 Instant Camera has multiple modes to choose from to ensure you get the best picture quality possible. If you’d prefer a wide instant camera, take a look at the Fujifilm Instax Wide 300 Instant Film Camera instead!

Fujifilm Instant Camera - Instax Mini 90 Neo Classic Black

Features

Fujifilm is one of the largest, most trusted manufacturers of cameras – digital, instant and camcorders – due to its extensive 80 years of experience. It is the world’s largest photography and imaging company; that’s quite a feat. Fujifilm is not only focused on cameras, however; it's also involved in functional materials, medicine and some other high-tech areas.

One of their high-quality, quirky cameras is the Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 Instant Camera. This vintage-style camera boast plenty of features including a high-performance flash and improved ability to capture light creatively. This instant camera automatically adjusts the shutter speed and flash, depending on the brightness of the surroundings, to give you optimized photo quality.

There are plenty of different modes to choose from to get your ideal shot including:

Macro Mode: For short distance shots as close as 30-60cm

Kids Mode: Ideal for capturing shots of children, pets or other fast-moving subjects

Double Exposure Mode: Press the shutter twice and capture 2 images on one film

Bulb Mode: A light trail can be photographed as the shutter remains open when you hold down the shutter button for up to 10 seconds

Party Mode: Backgrounds get captured as well as the subjects

Landscape Mode: Ideally suited for capturing subjects from 3m away and further

The Instax Mini 90 Camera comes in black and brown, so you can choose whichever color suits you best. You’ll also need to get your hands on some Fujifilm Instant Color Film "instax mini" which is 86 x 54mm and produces a 62 x 46mm image.

The Polaroid PIC 300 Instant Film Camera is great if you want to exercise your nostalgia, take photos and get the instant gratification of having them there in your hand straight away. If you really want to get authentic, you should try the Polaroid Impulse One Step Camera, with a proper vintage design.

Polaroid PIC-300 Instant Film Camera – Available in 4 Colors

Polaroid Instant Camera POLPIC300BL - Blue

Features

Polaroid is almost synonymous with instant cameras. It's produced them for 75 years, after Edwin Land thought up the idea in 1943. The company began producing instant cameras, otherwise known as Polaroid cameras. It's since continued to develop and manfacture a variety of products, including TVs, tablets, action cameras, digital still cameras and mobile apps.

We all love the nostalgia related to instant cameras so much that they’ve seen a resurgence in popularity, and Polaroid, of course, couldn’t wait to combine the technologies of today with the classic instant print camera. The Pic-300 Instant Print Camera is a more typical-looking instant camera from Polaroid. Although it has a more modern design than the old school ones, it doesn’t have a display or anything super high-tech. It takes the classic, credit card-sized photos on Polaroid 300 Instant Film.

Although it's not as flashy as the previous Polaroid model featured, it does have some pretty nifty features, including:

4 scene settings: this helps you perfect any photo in any lighting situation

Automatic flash, to give you those bright, colorful pictures

The flash will not always go off; its auto mode will decide whether it’s necessary

Manual exposure compensation

Electronic shutter speed is 1/60 second

Comes in 4 awesome colors: black, blue, purple or red

Although this camera hasn’t got a flashy touchscreen display, that’s not the true nature of an instant camera anyway. Part of the excitement is taking the photos and then waiting to see how they turn out! It’s all part of the fun, and you can have more of it because you can pick up this camera for around $70! That’s a bargain if you ask us.

The first instant camera in Leica’s range, the Sofort Instant Camera, offers multiple modes for taking great quality photos within minutes of unpacking the product. If you are interested in this camera, you should consider getting the Leica Sofort Instant Camera Case too, to help protect your new gadget.

Leica Instant Camera 19101 - Mint

Features

Leica Camera AG is a manufacturer of high-quality cameras and sport optics products, enjoyed by consumers worldwide. Founded on a legacy of excellence, Leica strives to innovate, improve and adapt to produce the very best in photography and optical devices. They produce a range of digital cameras, binoculars, spotting scopes, rangefinders and more.

Leica recently launches its first instant camera. They wanted to create a product that could capture the beauty of a moment and allow you to hold that memory in your hand almost instantly, to be relived again and again. Enter the the Sofort Instant Camera. This compact, functional camera is ideal to grab-and-go, particularly for fashion-conscious photographers as it’s available in a range of cool colors; white, mint and orange.

Kodak Instant Camera ROD-OMATICGR - Gray

Features

Kodak has been around since the early 1900s! They’re widely known for their impressive portfolio in the photography and imaging industry, however they’re also experts on software, hardware, electronic displays, materials science, digital imaging science and deposition. With such a long and full history, it’s easy to see why Kodak is one of the world’s most trusted brands when it comes to photography and printing. Their product range includes batteries, power banks, motion picture film, inkjet paper, ink and cameras.

The Kodak Printomatic Instant Camera is a fantastic, 10-megapixel point and shoot camera that allows you to hold a vibrant, clear image in your hands within seconds of taking the photograph. You don’t need to miss out on a single shot as you can take another picture as the previous one is still printing!

Here’s some more features to look out for:

Light sensor turns on the flash in low-light

Prints on 2 x 3” Kodak ZINK paper which is tear-resistant, water-resistant and has an adhesive back

Built-in flash

2 picture modes; black & white and color

Micro SD card slot

Built-in lithium ion battery

Available in gray or yellow

If you’ve decided on getting an instant camera for scrapbooking purposes, you should definitely consider getting this camera in the bundle option. This includes the camera, 20 sheets of ZINK paper, 9 colorful sticker sets, a camera case, markers, hanging frames, a photo album and other accessories!

The Instax Mini 9 Camera from Fujifilm comes in four bright and funky colors. Choose from pink, cobalt blue, white, green or ice blue. Alternatively, if you prefer the old school Instax Mini, you can opt for the Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 Instant Camera instead!

Fujifilm Instant Camera - Instax Mini 9 - Ice Blue

Features

Fujifilm has already been featured once before on this list. It wasn’t an oversight; we’ve done it on purpose because it has so much to offer in the world of instant cameras! The trend of instant cameras doesn’t seem to be fading, and Fujifilm just keeps on developing new and exciting products, so we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to show you two of its fantastic cameras.

We’re now featuring the Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 Instant Camera. This camera takes all the good parts of the Instax Mini 8 that everybody loved and then just adds a few extras in the mix too! It retains its ease of use and funky design but with five new colors to brood over; cobalt blue, ice blue, flamingo pink, lime green and smoky white.

There’s tons more features to get excited about though:

A new selfie mirror means you’ll never miss an opportunity for that Instagram-worthy shot again

There’s a close-up lens attachment for shots up to 35mm away

Various brightness modes including high-key mode for a softer picture

Automatic brightness detection; the camera will choose which brightness setting is best and light up the corresponding lamp

1/60 second fixed shutter speed

Works with Fujifilm Instax Mini Instant Film

As if this camera wasn’t great enough, you can also purchase it in a bundle with a case, a pack of 20 prints or both!